The Portland daily press., 1887-08-23
MILITIA MARCHING TO MEEKER.
White Mems Trlckery the Alleged
Cause OF the Trouble.
A Horse Race Which Led to a
State Of War.
Kendall and His COWBOYS After
the Utes.

DENVER, August 22-According 10 the
reports received here no additional hostili-
ties have occurred in the Ute country.
though the people are living under the same
great stress OF excitement The Aspen
Rifles, under Capt Gosline, 90 strong. have
arrived in Meeker, and the 800 cavalrymen
were expected to reach there yesterday noon.
The militia are expected to do garrison duty
on Meeker to protect the 400 settlers gath
cred there from attack by the Utes. should
that prove to be part of the Indian pro-
gramme. This win leave Sheriff Kendall
and his cowboy company free to go after the
Indians.
Sheriff Kendall's intentions are embodied
In the following dispatch;
MEEKER, Col, Aug. 10.
Dear sir,-Your infantry came in a short time
ago. Am glad to knew that you are taking prompt
here in the morning with 80 cowboys, but the
utes are getting more men all the time, and i
think we WIN have hard, d,fghting. Hope you will
be here with the cavalry soon.
Yours truly, J.o. KENDALL.
Sheriff Kendall wiz take with him three
regularly issued warrants. Two of them
Will be for Seveto and Big Frank, the two
Utes whom Sheriff Kendall previously tried
w dIICob lUI HOTSe stealing, ana tne Otner Tor
the arrest of Colorow, who is charged in the
warrant with resisting peace officer in the
discharge OF his duties. No doubt the In
dians VIII resist the serving of the warrants
and bloodshed will follow
The Utes are thought to be intrenched in
canon near Cool Creek, about 80 miles
from Meeker, and liz such a position that
Sheriff Kendall and a thrice larger force
than he has could not dislodge them. Sher-
II Kendall Will have with him on this expe-
ultioh 100 picked men, mountalneers and
COWBOYS, men who are used to the saddle
and rough life in the mountains. To send
green mllitiamen to the front would be con-
sidered the next thing to aiding the Utes in
planning massacre. Therefore, the mil
ltiamen Will be left to guard the settlers,
Wnlie the fathers and sons 90 to the 'front.'
Tricks of the Race Course.
The story is now told that back of the
theory of the present troubles exists a mo-
tive for the white mans war" which has
not heretofore been published 1t is that
the present troubles are the outgrowth of a
horse race which was run between the Utes
and some white men several weeks ago. As
is well known, Colorow and his band own
hundreds OF the speediest horses in the West.
they are passionately fond of horse racing.
They are almost sure winners. and it is a
source of great pride to themselves that they
are capable Of beating the speedy nags be-
longing to the pale-faces, who profess to be
their friends. White men often import race
horses with the intention of doing up" the
Utes in race. Such a put-up job as
this, it is alleged, was the beginning of the
present trouble, but the Utes spoiled the
white mems programme by winning the
race, The horses which ran in the race had
also been put in the pot There was much
rejoicing among the Utes at the result of the
race until it was found that the pale-faces
refused to give up their horses. The result
was that at night the Indians broke into the
white mems corral and taking the horses
they had won made off with them. Then
the same white men went before the grand
jury at Meeker, and mad the Indians arrested
for hOrse-stealing. They resisted when the
sheriff proceeded to serve the capiases, and
hence the Ute uprising.
How surgett Says It Begun.
Joseph A. Burgett, game warden for Gar
field county, the old frontiersman who began
the present disturbance, is now here and
tells how the affair originated.
The settlers had made long and bitter COM
plants Of the manner in which the country
was being cleared of game by the Colorow
gang. and finally they selected Burgett to
carry out that part of the civil laws. He
camped near them for several weeks to get
positive proof so that convictions would fol-
low and the nuisance be abated. He finally
accumulated enough evidence, and retiring
to Meeker summoned party of 80 men to
assist in the undertaking.
Arriving at the Indian camp an interpreter
explained matters. as also did Mr.. Burgett,
and the Indians consented to go peaceably,
but their actions only prove what little de-
pendence can be placed on their word. With
out any warning the Utes started for their
weapons and general firing commenced at
once. 1t only lasteu few minutes, and none
OF the whites were wounded. 1t is thought
that three Utes are wounded, but of this the
boys are not sure.
Following this attack Burgett was Joined
by Sheriff Kendall and the latter's posse.
who had warrants for the arrest of the Utes
who are charged with horse stealing, who
were indicted by the last grand jury that sat
in Garfield county. That case was also
worked so that it could not fail to bring pun
lshment to some members of this thieving
gang.
kendaIps Fight.
Phil Foote. who was with Sheriff KendalPs
party, describes the retreat from the Thorn
burgh battle grounds as follows: On Satur-
day afternoon, at o'clock, the party were
riding along, not dreaming of hostile Indians
when from cover some distance in front three
rifle cracks rang out, and the horse of the
foremost rider fell dead. The men made
determined stand, and after several -well-di-
rected yolleys had been sent in the direction
of the Indians, they fell back to more ele-
yated position, where they continued to fire
on the white men. One Indian was shot
from bis horse and several were supposed to
have been wounded No white man vas
hurt. The white men fell back to hill
about O'Clock at night, where they canped,
Keeping strict guard out all night. There
were 54 men with Kendall, and but two
blankets in the crowd.
For several days all they had to eat was
the meat of the game they killed, and as
that part of the country abounds in game, no
one suffered. Their principal trouble was
their horses, which were constantly giving
out, while the Utes always had fresh horses.
In the morning Kendall took Is men and
Foote 3S, and, taking different routes, they
started back for Meeker.